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THE RATINGS RACE: Jenna-Louise Coleman is the hottest Dr Who companion yet

The Queen's Christmas message was in 3D, but nobody saw the need to buy a 3D set Photo: AFP

What did you make of Wednesday's Dr Who special? Audience figures in the chart below. Catch it on ABC iView and come back here to discuss it.

If you add the figures of Nine and ABC, Her Majesty's Christmas Message got as many viewers as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which is either inspiring or depressing, depending on your perspective.

Homeland's season finale got fewer viewers than any other episode. The espionage aficionados must have gone on holidays already, planning to watch their recordings when they get back. What do you make of it? Was it intriguing enough to make you look forward to season three?

Once Upon a Time would be nothing without Regina

If Brody's daughter in Homeland is the most annoying character on TV, who comes closest to her in stupidity? We have a nomination of Andrea in The Walking Dead (see em's comment, below). There are plenty of candidates in Once Upon A Time.

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Because I watch Homeland on Sundays, I've been recording Pillars of the Earth and catching up on Mondays. I was hoping it would be Game of Thrones without the magic, but it turns out to be Game of Thrones without the acting skills, clever scripting and pacey direction. What do you make of it?

Andrea can handle firearms like any good American, but she's a candidate for second-most-annoying character on television, in The Walking Dead

A comparison of Sunday's viewing by Australians over 55 and Australians under 40 reveals disagreement on The Pillars of the Earth and Modern Family but consensus on cricket and the universe. Is Stephen Hawking's popularity with Gen XY the result of two decades of publicity from The Simpsons? Check out the charts below to determine which generation you belong to, at least psychologically.

What Australia watched, week ending December 29

Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

Two candidates for most annoying character on TV in The Pillars of the Earth.

This is the daily update of The Sun-Herald's Who We Are column by David Dale, who teaches Communications at UTS, Sydney. He is the author of The Little Book of Australia - A snapshot of Who We Are (Allen and Unwin). For continuing conversation about Australian attitudes, bookmark The Tribal Mind.

27 comments so far

We're getting down to the nitty-gritty of Homeland now. Only 1 ep to go I think? It's not been as good this year as I thought it would be but still enjoying it. And I think tonight is the last ep of Dexter for the year.

Not much on the telly at the moment. Very slim pickings. Glad to still have Foxtel, though some nights even with all those stations, there still isn't anything to watch!

As for movies, I am waiting for The Hobbitt, Le Mis, The Life of Pi etc to come on. I saw Skyfall last week and really enjoyed it. You know what your going to get going in to a Bond film. Leave brain at the door and enjoy the ride. Sometimes that's all I want.

My son is going to the Premier of The Hobbitt tomorrow night in Sydney. I am jealous.His girlfriend has free tix. Lucky boy.

Commenter

em

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 9:33AM

SPOILET ALERT: Don't read on if you haven't seen last night's episode yet.

It's hard to see how they could go to a third season, with Abu Nazir now out of the picture and Brodie up for termination next week, unless the theme changes to internal CIA warfare.

Commenter

Tribal Mind

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 9:41AM

SPOILER ALERT AGAIN:- Only read if you've seen Sunday's ep of Homeland

I agree, TM. Not sure what the writers have in store for that last ep but it would have to be pretty good to go for a third season. Maybe Brody will die and Carrie will live to fight another day and bring another "terrorist" to justice. Or become one herself to seek vengence for Brody's assasination?

Commenter

em

Date and time

December 17, 2012, 12:31PM

Re 'Homeland', I thought that episode was woeful.I think his family is going to die.Brodie will go on the run.Carrie will pretend to be tracking him down while secretly spending weekends with him "at the lake" and simultaneously taking apart the CIA from the inside out.It's all gotten a bit routine.And why was Roya still wearing her high heels after several days in custody? Eh? Eh? That's what I want to know. They take your shoe-laces but not your Manolo Blaniks? And what does Dana's little tantie about there being no milk for the cereal have to do with anything? And why did Abu Nazir Disney-slice the FBI agent's throat but Carrie he just face-plants into a drum? Pretty soft for a terrorist master-mind.If Brodie or several of his family members don't die in the final episode, I'm out.

Commenter

darren

Date and time

December 18, 2012, 3:55AM

Well darren

"If Brodie or several of his family members don't die in the final episode, I'm out"

Looks like you will not be watching season 3 then? I think Homeland is just another high potential, low achiever show. Bit like Dexter, only it did the Fonzie thing a lot sooner.

I am doing a lot more reading in dead tree format these days. My Kindle has become unloved of late and looking at the offering on TV, I will be reading a lot more over the holiday break. All these channels and nothing on .. again. Plus I have maxed out my downloads.

Very sad to hear of yet another lot of little tackers needlessly dying so some fruit-looper can go all Rambo.

Commenter

Algenon

Date and time

December 18, 2012, 9:31AM

Darren, I feel your pain! Actually, I was thinking something similar when I say Roya and those heels. And the fact that she looked pretty damn good for someone who was in the CIA's custody. Why wasn't she wearing one of those funny orange jumpsuits? Did it clash with her complexion? Surely those heels could be classified as a "deadly weapon" and should have been confiscated when she was arrested? But no, can't have a beautiful terrorist running around in flats now can we?

And I have to agree that Brody's daughter has to be the most annoying character in the whole show. And her sub plots seem to add nothing to the show other than to fill in time that the writers could have filled in better with some believable plot lines instead.

All in all very disappointing season. I loved this show last year but this year has been a major let down.

On the other hand, last nights season finale of Dexter was heart renderingly brilliant. Can't wait to see what happens next. And that's what a good program should do, Keep you wanting more. Not wanting to hurl something through your expensive telly whilst cursing at the dumb writers.

Commenter

em

Date and time

December 18, 2012, 9:49AM

I don't watch "Homeland" so can't join in on any of the reindeer games here.

I have been watching downloaded copies of "Arrow" and enjoying that. It's got silly moments (a tighter script would be good) but I'm enjoying it as good fun entertainment. Glad I don't have to watch Channel Nine play silly buggers with it in the schedule next year.

And a workmate gave me downloaded copies of "Castle" so I can catch up on what got missed - whenever Channel Seven changes the name of a program (from "Castle" to "Castle - New Episode" or "Castle - Double Feature" or "Castle - it's awesome!!!!") the Topfield fails to record it. Not happy, Jan, with Channel Seven, but looking forward to some serious Nathan Fillion overload over summer.

And "Star Wars". Sometimes one has to return to the classics. (Although it would be nicer if our DVD had Han shooting first, as it was meant to be.)

Commenter

tqd

Date and time

December 18, 2012, 1:48PM

Yes, em and Algenon, I have had the feeling that for most of this season, the writers for 'Homeland' have been treading water. Ever since they stabbed Brody in the hand. Should have aimed a bit further up....I used to like Dana but she's gone all whiny and limp.Chris seems to have had a lobotomy..... Comes into frame every now and then to ask Brodie to go play catch or help him with his math. That's about it for Chris.

Re 'Pillars of the Earth', I read the book, and remember it as quite.... unpleasant. Lots of raping. Must throw that out. 'Game of Thrones' it aint.

Commenter

darren

Date and time

December 18, 2012, 2:21PM

I just made the mistake of reading an interview in Entertainment Weekly with the makers of Homeland about the season finale just shown in US. It does include reference to the silly hit-and-run subplot which went nowhere, because they lost interest in it. If you don't mind massive plot spoilers, go to What's next for Brody? Or wait till next Monday, after you've seen the ep on Ten.

Commenter

Tribal Mind

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 4:17AM

THEY lost interest in it??But yeah, TM, I think I read that article too, or one very like it. In any case, I now know what happens in the final episode. Knowing makes it only slightly more predictable than not knowing.

I third Andrea from 'The Walking Dead' for annoyingness, and I've only seen to the end of season 2. She should've stayed behind with Token African-American Woman and Crazy CDC guy at the end of S1.

Can't think of anyone else because the ol' brain has packed its bags and gone to find a quiet beach already...

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